Report on toddler's death sent to State Attorney's Office

Published: Friday, April 5, 2013 at 5:24 p.m.

Last Modified: Friday, April 5, 2013 at 5:24 p.m.

The final report outlining the investigation into the death of a toddler who died in January when she was run over by a car has been sent by the Ocala Police Department to the State Attorney’s Office for review.

FILE PHOTO - Samaya Bradford, who was struck and killed by a car in northwest Ocala, is shown in this photo provided by her family on Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2013. (Submitted photo)

Samaya Bradford, 1½, died from blunt trauma to the head after being hit by a car driven by Shenneka Latonya Lofton, 21, according to the report.

Officer Jared Sieg, an OPD traffic homicide investigator, noted in the report that the injury sustained by Samaya was consistent with her body making contact with the underside of the vehicle, a 2002 Pontiac Grand Prix GT.

Sieg concluded that Lofton violated two state statutes: improper backing and not having a valid driver’s license. He said she should have verified the location of the children prior to reversing the car and if she had not been driving, the accident would not have occurred.

Neither speed, weather nor road condition were factors, Sieg said.

Lofton was arrested shortly after the Jan. 12 incident and was taken to the Marion County Jail, where she was charged with leaving the scene of a crash with a death and not having a valid driver’s license. She was released the next day. Court records show the leaving the scene charge was later dropped. Lofton has a June court date on the remaining charge. She is being represented by the Public Defender’s Office.

Lofton reportedly told Sieg that she drove her mother’s car to her cousin’s house at 730 NW 15th Ave. to see if someone could fix it. As Lofton was leaving, four children, including Samaya, were playing in the yard. Lofton told them to get on the porch so she could back up. She told Sieg she backed out and heard a child screaming, so she stopped. She said she got out of the car, picked up the child and carried her into the house, then left, the report noted.

Lofton drove to her own home and told her mother what happened. Her mother told her to return to the scene, so she, along with other relatives, including her mother, went back to the home.

Lofton reportedly told Sieg she left the scene because she was scared.

Sieg noted in his report that Lofton has never had a driver’s license.

Family members described Samaya as a beautiful girl who was joyful, full of life, loving, smart and brave.

<p>The final report outlining the investigation into the death of a toddler who died in January when she was run over by a car has been sent by the Ocala Police Department to the State Attorney's Office for review.</p><p>Samaya Bradford, 1½, died from blunt trauma to the head after being hit by a car driven by Shenneka Latonya Lofton, 21, according to the report.</p><p>Officer Jared Sieg, an OPD traffic homicide investigator, noted in the report that the injury sustained by Samaya was consistent with her body making contact with the underside of the vehicle, a 2002 Pontiac Grand Prix GT.</p><p>Sieg concluded that Lofton violated two state statutes: improper backing and not having a valid driver's license. He said she should have verified the location of the children prior to reversing the car and if she had not been driving, the accident would not have occurred.</p><p>Neither speed, weather nor road condition were factors, Sieg said.</p><p>Lofton was arrested shortly after the Jan. 12 incident and was taken to the Marion County Jail, where she was charged with leaving the scene of a crash with a death and not having a valid driver's license. She was released the next day. Court records show the leaving the scene charge was later dropped. Lofton has a June court date on the remaining charge. She is being represented by the Public Defender's Office.</p><p>Lofton reportedly told Sieg that she drove her mother's car to her cousin's house at 730 NW 15th Ave. to see if someone could fix it. As Lofton was leaving, four children, including Samaya, were playing in the yard. Lofton told them to get on the porch so she could back up. She told Sieg she backed out and heard a child screaming, so she stopped. She said she got out of the car, picked up the child and carried her into the house, then left, the report noted.</p><p>Lofton drove to her own home and told her mother what happened. Her mother told her to return to the scene, so she, along with other relatives, including her mother, went back to the home.</p><p>Lofton reportedly told Sieg she left the scene because she was scared.</p><p>Sieg noted in his report that Lofton has never had a driver's license.</p><p>Family members described Samaya as a beautiful girl who was joyful, full of life, loving, smart and brave.</p><p><i>Contact Austin L. Miller at 867-4118 or austin.miller@starbanner.com.</i></p>